The Toronto Maple Leafs’ hopes of landing Zach Werenski have taken a hit.
For a while, Toronto was trying to build a trade package for one of the NHL’s top defensemen, but nothing came together. The Columbus Blue Jackets had been trying to convince Werenski to stay, and now they’ve gotten a major boost in that effort from Adam Fantilli.
Fantilli has signed a six-year deal worth $13.25 million per season, a move that changes the outlook around Columbus and, by extension, Toronto’s trade chase. With Fantilli locked in, the Blue Jackets are signaling that they want to keep moving forward and try to get back into the playoff mix after another rough season.
That makes Werenski far less likely to be available. If Fantilli had chosen to leave, Werenski would have had more reason to consider moving on as well. Instead, Columbus has at least one core piece committed, and that appears to strengthen the case for keeping the group together.
Kirill Marchenko still does not seem interested in staying in Columbus, but Fantilli is the player who matters most here for the Blue Jackets’ direction.
Toronto did at least end up with Darren Raddysh, which takes some of the sting out of missing on Werenski. Even so, general manager John Chayka has to be hoping an opening appears at some point.
For now, though, this feels like one of those trade possibilities that drifts in and out of view. The Leafs will have to wait and see what develops, and in the meantime, they’re better off concentrating on the roster they already have.
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